Incidence of acetabular dysplasia in breech infants following initially normal ultrasound: the effect of variable diagnostic criteria

PURPOSE This study aimed to determine the incidence of acetabular dysplasia at six months of age in patients with breech presentation and previously normal hip ultrasounds, reporting primary radiographic measurements to allow for comparison with other patient cohorts. METHODS A retrospective analysis of breech infants with initially normal clinical examinations and hip ultrasounds was performed to determine the rate of subsequent acetabular dysplasia and to characterise the distribution of acetabular index (AI). At approximately six months of age, AI was measured bilaterally on anteroposterior (AP) pelvic radiographs and reported using descriptive statistics. RESULTS A total of 94 hips in 47 breech infants were eligible for analysis. All infants demonstrated normal ultrasound findings at a mean age of 6.9 ± 1.7 weeks and returned for follow-up at a mean age of 6.4 ± 0.5 months. On AP pelvic radiographs, mean right hip AI was 25.0°, with an interquartile range (IQR) (25th -75th percentile) of 23° to 27° and mean left hip AI was 25.5°, with an IQR of 22° to 28°. If one applies a single commonly used threshold value for defining dysplasia (AI ≥ 30°), 10/94 hips (10.6%) meet diagnostic criteria. Alternatively, strict adherence to previously established normative AI values stratified by gender and laterality results in 4/94 hips (4.3%) qualifying as significantly dysplastic. CONCLUSIONS The proportion of breech infants who, despite normal initial ultrasound findings, were diagnosed with dysplasia at six months supports observation of breech-born patients beyond six weeks. Reliance on different threshold values for diagnosing acetabular dysplasia can lead to discrepancies in incidence rates.